Q: Because of this economy, a few months ago I accepted a job for which I’m overqualified. Because I’m underemployed, I’ve continued looking for a more suitable job. However, my supervisor has been critical of my search and the fact my resume is posted on job hunting sites. The employee handbook makes no mention of it, but can I be disciplined or even fired for this?
A: The question I would be most concerned with is not so much whether you will be disciplined or fired for this -you probably won’t. But, the fact that you’re openly looking for other employment could certainly make you look uncommitted to your job, like you’re not fully engaged nor invested in the company’s mission. And it’s those perceptions that make you vulnerable and may contribute to you being disciplined or fired.
Here’s a scenario: let’s say you make a serious mistake, like missing a major deadline or making a huge gaffe with a client. If I’m your boss and I think you’re Mr. Dedicated and here for the long term, I’m more likely to attribute your blunder to human error, and cut you some slack.
On the other hand, if I think you’re looking for greener pastures with a foot out the door, I’m probably going to attribute the mistake to your failure to pay full attention to your current job. Now, I’m not implying that this is true. You might be perfectly capable of being a dedicated, focused employee while still looking for other opportunities. But in practice, you’ll be perceived as uncommitted and this makes you susceptible to stricter discipline when something goes wrong.
Lastly, even though the handbook doesn’t directly prohibit looking for work while employed, it’s accepted business etiquette that it’s generally not done openly (blatantly). So, I’m not surprised your supervisor is critical.
I’d advise you to be careful and discreet. Downplay your job search. It’s not in your best interest for your supervisor to think you’re distracted or dissatisfied. You certainly have lots of company, many people are currently underemployed. Question to readers: Are you in a similar situation? How did you handle it? Send comments to AskEva@hrproondemand.com
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